BY MIKE MASTOVICH
JOHNSTOWN — Delweld will face a AAABA& League alumni team filled with former pros and a couple ex-big leaguers in a charity game on Friday night at Point Stadium.
Not only do the alumni players have some impressive credentials, many of those former AAABA stars still are playing competitively.
Don’t expect to see a group of out-of-shape ballplayers shuffling across the field during the 7 p.m. contest.
“I think the new guys are going to get an education,” said Dee Dee Osborne, the former Johnstown Junior League manager who will share alumni coaching duties with Forrest Mazey, another former AAABA manager who also was Osborne’s assistant in the local league. “These guys coming in to play aren’t stale.
“They play out in Creekside in Indiana County. There are eight guys who played professional ball and two that made it to the big leagues. They’re coming out to play. For a spectator it will be something to see. These guys are some of the best to come out of the AAABA ;and the Junior League.”
The game will serve as a live workout for Delweld, the city’s representative in next week’s 65th AAABA Tournament.
More important, the $3 donation for admission will benefit Matthew Hohan, the popular batboy from Principle Development who has been with Delweld in the past two tournaments. Hohan, 15, has an immune-system deficiency that can leave him vulnerable to infections and other ailments.
He must take as many as 30 to 40 pills a day. The game will help offset medical expenses.
“It’s for a great cause,” Delweld manager Chris DelSignore said. “That’s what’s most important. Matt’s situation puts everything in perspective. As competitive as we get during the summer, sometimes baseball doesn’t seem as important when you see a kid like Matt. That kid is a fighter.”
Osborne listed some familiar names on the 29-man alumni roster:
Pitchers included: Former major leaguers Mike Holtz and Joe Vitko; former minor leaguers Rick Roberts – who conceived and helped organize the game – Brian Neal, Garry Wurm and Ernie Peterman.
David Sube and Tim Buzzard also are alumni hurlers.
“The pitchers probably will throw one inning each, with one guy throwing two,” Osborne said.
The catchers are Joe Arcurio, Sam Zambanini and Paul Pentz.
First basemen include Eric Davis, Rick Baxter and Doug McNulty, who was in the Mets system.
The second basemen are Chance Osborne, Phil Pantano and Dan DelSignore.
Shortstops are John Rocco, former pro Jimmy Mayer and Matt Petrowsky.
Casey Long, who played in four AAABA& Tournaments, and Matt Hanley are at third base.
The outfield is made up of Ryan Unger, Billy Colosimo, Josh Rearick, Quenteen Robinson, Adam Fairman and Rich and Kevin Price.
“There is no substitute for playing,” Delweld’s DelSignore said. “If you can play against these guys, most of whom are still playing and are seasoned right now, that breaks up the monotony. These guys have had success in this league before, and a lot of them have been in the situation we’re in.”
The risk of injury is the only downside to such an exhibition.
“We’re just going to move guys in and out,” DelSignore said. “We’re going to get guys at-bats who have not had at-bats for a while. The pitchers will get one inning apiece.”
Many of the alumni players still compete in either the Indiana County League or the Altoona City League.
Long, Neal, Roberts, Vitko, Hanley and Fairman each play on Creekside, which won its fourth straight regular-season crown this year and is in the ICL playoff final.
Wurm and Zambanini played on West Lebanon in the ICL.
Buzzard was with Bovard and McNulty, Homer-Center, in the unlimited age league.
Petrowsky and Peterman each play for Lilly in the Altoona City League.
“When anybody in Cambria County asks for help for somebody and asks to show some love for anybody, the sports fans come through,” Osborne said. “I hope the people turn out on Friday to show some love to Matthew and to see a good baseball game.”
